More than two years after they first applied, the developers of the Ashby high-rise will receive permits for a project that generated protests and a renewed debate over how to regulate development in Houston, city officials said today.

The decision was based on changes developers Matthew Morgan and Kevin Kirton made in their 11th submission of plans for the building at 1717 Bissonnet, said Andy Icken, deputy director of public works and engineering. City engineers concluded that the changes would reduce traffic sufficiently for the development to meet the city's standards, he said.

The building will be 23 stories high, the same as originally proposed. Houston’s development codes don’t restrict the height of buildings.

The new plans reduce the number of residential units and eliminate a spa, retail space and executive offices, Icken said. These changes significantly reduce the number of peak-hour trips expected from vehicles entering and exiting the property, one of the key restrictions in the code.

Mayor Annise Parker has sent a letter to residents of the Southampton area saying the city has no legal basis to stop developers from building the controversial Ashby high-rise as outlined in their 2009 plans. (See design below)

“I am accepting the advice of city legal counsel and recommending the settlement of the lawsuit,” she said in the Feb. 29 letter.

Under the terms of the settlement, the city would approve a 21-story building consisting of 228 residential units, 10,075 square feet of restaurant space and four town homes. It will also incorporate a pedestrian plaza to enhance the area along Bissonnet Street.

I think the design of this building is suitable for being built in the neighbourhood though.

Agreed and nothing is being torn down that should be saved. Either Houston has zoning or they don't. And they keep voting it down so live with it. Am happy happy happy to see some mixed use project going into the neighborhood. This is about 4 blocks south of me.

Sarnoff: Ashby may rise later this year
Published 11:36 p.m., Friday, March 16, 2012

Nancy Sarnoff

After more than four years in the works, the so-called Ashby high-rise is expected to break ground by year-end.

A lawsuit keeping the project from being built was settled last week. The proposed building pitted the developer against the city of Houston and a well-to-do neighborhood - some of whose residents went to great lengths to stop the Ashby project.

"A few may continue to complain, but this development will not be stopped because good projects always get built," developer Matthew Morgan said in a written statement. "The settlement of this lawsuit should send a clear signal to them that any similar attempts to delay the pro-ject will not succeed."

The building will have 228 high-end apartments in 21 stories. It will go up at 1717 Bissonnet in place of the Maryland Manor apartments.

If the project breaks ground before the fourth quarter, units could be available by the end of 2013 at the earliest.

It's going to be hard to get this project off the ground. Lots of very powerful people live on North Blvd, South Blvd, Sunset Blvd, and West Blvds. They own the 1920s mansions sitting on full acres with 100 year old live oaks gracing their lawns. They do not want a highrise in their backyards. Rumors are swirling of blackballing any and every vendor who might get on board with 1717 Bissonnet. If true, then not surprising Mr Linbeck pulled out. Will any other local construction firm pick up the slack?

A new builder has been selected for the controversial project commonly known as the Ashby high-rise.

Pepper-Lawson Construction LP, the Texas division of Chicago-based Pepper Construction Group LLC, has been named as the replacement for Houston-based Linbeck Group LLC, the Houston Chronicle reports.

Linbeck, a Houston-based general contractor, pulled out of the project in March.

Pepper-Lawson will be the managing partner for the project’s general contracting joint venture, which also includes El Paso-based Hunt Building Co., the Chronicle reports. Hunt is also working to demolish the Maryland Manor apartments, the property currently on the project’s site at 1717 Bissonnet.

Plans for the 21-story tower include 228 upscale apartments and a restaurant.

Last week, a group of residents who live near the project filed a lawsuit against the tower’s developer, Buckhead Investment Partners, which said the project will move forward without delay. Previously, the project was the subject of a lawsuit that was settled last spring.